{{disambig-more|Battle of Dagorlad|[[Battle of Dagorlad (disambiguation)]]}}

{{disambig-more|Battle of Dagorlad|[[Battle of Dagorlad (disambiguation)]]}}

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*[[Oropher]] †

*[[Oropher]] †

*[[Amdír]] †

*[[Amdír]] †

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*[[Durin IV]]

|commanders2= {{Sauron blazon}}

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|forces1=Hundreds of thousands of Men, Elves, and Dwarves

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The '''Battle of Dagorlad''' occurred in the year 3434 of the [[Second Age]]. It was fought between the army of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] under [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] and an army of [[Orcs]] and other creatures loyal to [[Sauron]]. The battle took place on the great, treeless, open plain between the [[Dead Marshes]] and [[Cirith Gorgor]]. The army of the Last Alliance won the battle and was able to attack the [[Morannon]], the entrance to Sauron's land of [[Mordor]]. But the Elves and Men suffered such heavy casualties, that they had to bury them and the dead Orcs in the Dead Marshes. Later, in the [[Third Age]], the Dagorlad was the site of several battles between [[Gondor]] and various [[Easterlings|Easterling]] armies, and the climatic [[Battle of the Morannon]].

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The '''Battle of Dagorlad''' occurred in the year 3434 of the [[Second Age]]. It was fought between the army of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] under [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] and an army of [[Orcs]] and other creatures loyal to [[Sauron]]. The battle took place on the great, treeless, open plain between the [[Dead Marshes]] and [[Cirith Gorgor]].

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==Prelude==

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After the [[Downfall of Númenor]] in 3319 SA the remaining [[Faithful]] led by [[Elendil]] and his sons [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]] etablished the [[Realms in Exile]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Elendil ruled [[Arnor]] in the north, Isildur and Anarion jointly ruled the southern realm of [[Gondor]]. Sauron had survived the Fall of Númenor and returned to his fortress [[Barad-dûr]] in [[Mordor]].

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Perceiving that his enemies of old had escaped the downfall, Sauron's wrath was great and in 3429 SA he launched an attack upon Gondor. To counter this attack Elendil and [[Gil-galad]], [[High King of the Noldor]] forged the [[Last Alliance|Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] to defeat Sauron finally. Meanwhile Anárion held out in Gondor, defending [[Osgiliath]] and [[Minas Anor]]<ref name="Appendix A">{{App|A1}}</ref>.

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The united host of Elves and Men crossed the [[Misty Mountains]] and marched south through the vale of [[Anduin]], where they were joined by the [[Silvan Elves]] lead by [[Amdír]] and [[Oropher]]<ref name="Silvan Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref>. and also a host from [[Khazad-dûm]]<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref>. The Alliance entered the vast plain between the [[Dead Marshes]] and [[Cirith Gorgor]], where Sauron's host awaited them, from the north-west and where joined by Anárion's forces.

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==The Battle==

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Not many accounts of the battle itslef are given. The two captains of the Silvan Elves had little sympathy for the [[Sindar]] and [[Noldor]] Elves that were lead by Gil-galad. As a result they were indisposed to place themselves under the supreme command of Gil-galad and impetuous and stubborn as they were attacked the host of Mordor rashly, before Gil-galad had given the command. The Silvans were valiant and doughty, but comparably ill-equipped and Oropher perished in the first onslaught while Amdír and his troops were cut off an driven into the marshes where half of his host perished<ref name="Silvan Princes"/>.

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Nevertheless the Alliance gained the upper hand and drove away the Orcs and wicked Men Sauron had mustered. Thus they finally broke through [[Cirith Gorgor]] (if the [[Morannon]] already existed is not known for sure. If it was there, it is unclear how the Alliance managed to break through), and etablished a camp upon Gorgoroth<ref name="Rings"/>.

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==Aftermath==

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A great part of Sauron's soldiers was slain in this battle. The Alliance was able to enter Mordor and lay siege upon Barad-dûr itself. Nevertheless Sauron still had enough supplies to defend the fortress for seven more years, until the siege was so pressing that he himself came forth, which led to the battle on the slopes of Orodruin in which Sauron was defeated and [[the One Ring]] taken from him<ref name="Rings"/>.

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==Notes==

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In the [[Third Age]], the Dagorlad was the site of several battles between [[Gondor]] and various [[Easterlings|Easterling]] armies, and the climatic [[Battle of the Morannon]].

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In the text in the [[Unfinished Tales]] Amdír is name [[Malgalad]] for an unknown reason. Oropher's son [[Thranduil]] survived the war and etablished his reign over the Silvan Elves in [[Eryn Galen]].

The Battle

Not many accounts of the battle itslef are given. The two captains of the Silvan Elves had little sympathy for the Sindar and Noldor Elves that were lead by Gil-galad. As a result they were indisposed to place themselves under the supreme command of Gil-galad and impetuous and stubborn as they were attacked the host of Mordor rashly, before Gil-galad had given the command. The Silvans were valiant and doughty, but comparably ill-equipped and Oropher perished in the first onslaught while Amdír and his troops were cut off an driven into the marshes where half of his host perished[2].

Nevertheless the Alliance gained the upper hand and drove away the Orcs and wicked Men Sauron had mustered. Thus they finally broke through Cirith Gorgor (if the Morannon already existed is not known for sure. If it was there, it is unclear how the Alliance managed to break through), and etablished a camp upon Gorgoroth[3].

Aftermath

A great part of Sauron's soldiers was slain in this battle. The Alliance was able to enter Mordor and lay siege upon Barad-dûr itself. Nevertheless Sauron still had enough supplies to defend the fortress for seven more years, until the siege was so pressing that he himself came forth, which led to the battle on the slopes of Orodruin in which Sauron was defeated and the One Ring taken from him[3].